Systems Optimisation Engineer (Water)

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Pension Scheme

Annual Leave 26–30 days

Health & wellbeing benefits

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a Systems Optimisation Engineer (Water) to manage a hydraulic system area serving hundreds of thousands of properties. You will lead technical input on projects and act as operations lead during emergencies, mitigating impacts on customers, water quality, and brand image.

Based in London with hybrid travel to Ashford Common (TW15 1RU) and Deephams (N9 0BA), the role requires strong leadership, analytical skills, and regulatory understanding.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of hydraulic system operations.
• Understanding of Water Industry regulatory measures relating to customer satisfaction, leakage and water quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical input into engineering and customer-led projects.
• Act as technical system operations lead during unplanned emergencies to mitigate customer impact.
• Write and assess risk assessments for work affecting the clean water hydraulic system.
• Support monitoring of pressure-managed areas and information management.
• Formulate operating strategies with the control centre.
• Design and update line schematics of water pressure zones and hydraulic systems.
• Assess and approve new connections or development requests.

Skills

Hydraulic principles

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Leadership

Analytical skills

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Job description

Hybrid - Ashford Common (WTW) - TW15 1RU, Hybrid - Deephams (STW) - N9 0BA

Job title Systems Optimisation Engineer (Water) Ref 45981 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid - Ashford Common (WTW) - TW15 1RU, Hybrid - Deephams (STW) - N9 0BA Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary This role will be paid from £39,770 to £45,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Job grade B Closing date 23/10/2026

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a busy operational environment, within a high-profile team where contacts are made with multiple stakeholders across the business.

The System Optimisation Engineer is responsible for a geographical & hydraulic system area of the Thames Water potable water system, typically serving hundreds of thousands of properties, who is tasked to use their technical expertise of hydraulic system operations towards achieving key operational and regulatory targets.

What you’ll be doing as a Systems Optimisation Engineer (Water)

• Leading the technical operational input into engineering and customer-led projects.
• Be the technical system operations lead on unplanned emergency events with a view to mitigating against adverse effects to the customer, Interruptions to supply, water quality, and brand image.
• Write and assess risk assessments for the work impacting the clean water hydraulic system.
• Support monitoring of pressure-managed areas and management of information.
• Formulating operating strategies in conjunction with the operational control centre.
• Design and update line schematics of water pressure zones and the hydraulic systems, to help management and investigation of issues.
• Assess and approve all new connections or development requests coming from the customer.

Base location:

London – Deephams (N9 0BA) & Ashford Common (TW15 1RU), however, additional travel to other sites across London may be required.

Working pattern or hours:

36 Hours per week (Mon – Fri) with the inclusion on a standby rota for which you will receive additional payment.

What should you bring to the role?

• Hold industry-relevant experience and in-depth knowledge of hydraulic principles.
• Have a thorough understanding of the Water Industries regulatory measures relating to customer satisfaction, leakage, water quality, customer low pressures and interruptions.
• Having strong communication and leadership skills is required when negotiating or liaising with different stakeholders in this role.
• Have good analytical, problem-solving, and negotiating skills and an extreme willingness to learn and work hard to drive their career within Thames Water.

Additional skills and experiences would be great to have/bring:

• Ideally, be a degree-educated graduate in a suitable technical discipline like Engineering or equivalent.

What’s in it for you?

• This role will be paid from £39,770 to £45,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Annual Leave:26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Pension: Maximum of 12% = 2x employee contribution.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks ( Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family . Why choose us? Learn more .

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process . If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know , we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.